Enhanced problem-solving ability as an adaptation to urban environments in house mice.

ABSTRACT: Humans have a large impact on the distribution and abundance of animal species worldwide. The ecological effects of human-altered environments are being increasingly recognized and understood, but their effects on evolution are largely unknown. Enhanced cognitive abilities and the ability to innovate have been suggested as crucial traits for thriving in human-altered habitats. We tested if house mice (Mus musculus) subspecies have evolved enhanced innovative problem-solving abilities throughout their commensal lives with humans. The time that subspecies lived commensally with humans ranges between approximately 3000 years to more than 11 000 years, thus providing an excellent example of human-animal coexistence. In addition, we tested whether differences in problem-solving were medi

SUBMITTER: Vrbanec L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7934975 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature